I'm fascinated by this subject -- and impacted by it as a woman! -- but I found On the Rocks to be extremely academic and hard to get into. It's not particularly conversational or approachable. Some people may like the high level of research and stats, but it's not quite what I was expecting.

This book was interesting, but not exactly what I was looking for in this book. I think the information is very useful, but I wish it was written without the low, steady beat of shame and guilting throughout.

On the Rocks: Straight Talk About Women and Drinking is a fascinating exploration of the complex relationship women have with alcohol. Women drink more alcohol now than ever before and there are a plethora of factors that point to why that is. Susan D. Stewart interviewed over 600 women of different ethnicities and income levels in an attempt to get answers. There a significant look at what the society we're in suggests to women - an increase in marketing of alcohol directly to women, as well as the idea that it's a welcome break from children. I've always cringed at those that call wine "mommy juice." It's a significant problem that we don't often view as a problem until it's too far gone. Highly recommended to anyone interested the way drinking as changed in society as it pertains to women. The gender gap is closing. Be sure to check out On the Rocks today!

Since this is based on the author's study/direct conversations, it feels like what I really wanted to read - something with a bit more commentary - wasn't quite this. It's basically an explainer of the research points she set out to investigate and some collation of the information based on conversations. It's not all bad, because when she does extrapolate from her data and put it into a more narrative form for the reader, it's excellent.

And this is a subject I think we can never get enough of writing on. As Stewart overwhelmingly demonstrates, there has been a major ramp-up in the marketing of alcohol to women, which is only one of a multitude of factors that in recent years have led to a disproportionate increase in women's alcohol consumption and consequently, death and illness from the same. The proliferation of snarky memes and cutesy wine-themed products doesn't help the normalization of massive alcohol consumption and the ignoring of the underlying reasons for it.

Interesting topic and a good addition to this conversation.